Messier 3 (NGC 5272)
M3: This cluster is one of the largest and brightest, and is made up of around 500,000 stars. It is estimated to be 11.4 billion years old. It is centered at 32,600 light-years away from Earth.
It was discovered on May 3, 1764 and was the first Messier object to be discovered by Charles Messier himself. Messier originally mistook the object for a nebula without stars. This mistake was corrected after the stars were resolved by William Herschel around 1784. Since then, it has become one of the best-studied globular clusters.
Imaging telescope: Takahashi FSQ130ED
Imaging camera: QSI 6120i
Mount: JTW Trident P75
Guiding telescope: Takahashi FS60CB
Guiding camera: QHY 5 II
Focal Extender / Reducer: Tak. 1.6X
Software: Sequence Generator Pro SGP (for capture) PHD 2 (guiding), Astro Pixel Processor, PixInsight.
Filters: Astrodon LRG&B
Accessories: Robofocus Focuser controlled by Lunatico Armadillo, ATIK EFW 3, RB Focus Gaius, RB Focus Excalibur.
Dates: 27th. - 28th Feb. 2024
Frames:
Astrodon L,R,G & B 4 x 24 x 60'
Total integration = 1 Hour 36 minutes
Center (RA, Dec): (205.550, 28.387)
Center (RA, hms): 13h 42m 12.046s
Center (Dec, dms): +28° 23' 13.695"
Size: 36.8 x 28.6 arcmin
Radius: 0.388 deg
Pixel scale: 0.572 arcsec/pixel
Orientation: Up is 351.4 degrees E of N
It was discovered on May 3, 1764 and was the first Messier object to be discovered by Charles Messier himself. Messier originally mistook the object for a nebula without stars. This mistake was corrected after the stars were resolved by William Herschel around 1784. Since then, it has become one of the best-studied globular clusters.
Imaging telescope: Takahashi FSQ130ED
Imaging camera: QSI 6120i
Mount: JTW Trident P75
Guiding telescope: Takahashi FS60CB
Guiding camera: QHY 5 II
Focal Extender / Reducer: Tak. 1.6X
Software: Sequence Generator Pro SGP (for capture) PHD 2 (guiding), Astro Pixel Processor, PixInsight.
Filters: Astrodon LRG&B
Accessories: Robofocus Focuser controlled by Lunatico Armadillo, ATIK EFW 3, RB Focus Gaius, RB Focus Excalibur.
Dates: 27th. - 28th Feb. 2024
Frames:
Astrodon L,R,G & B 4 x 24 x 60'
Total integration = 1 Hour 36 minutes
Center (RA, Dec): (205.550, 28.387)
Center (RA, hms): 13h 42m 12.046s
Center (Dec, dms): +28° 23' 13.695"
Size: 36.8 x 28.6 arcmin
Radius: 0.388 deg
Pixel scale: 0.572 arcsec/pixel
Orientation: Up is 351.4 degrees E of N
Sky Map & Finding Chart
Annotated Image:
